MSU Hosting NCAA Ski Race at Big Sky Resort

Big Sky, Mont. (December 30, 2013) Big Sky Resort is the home of the Montana State University Ski Team and together with Big Sky Ski Education Foundation and Montana State University will be hosting the MSU Invitational NCAA Division 1 FIS-University race January 10-12, 2014. The course will be set on Andesite Mountain, accessed by Ramcharger chairlift, on Tippy's Tumble.

The MSU Invitational is one of eight Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) ski races. The women's and men's GS (Giant Slalom) Qualifier is Friday, January 10th, starting at 10:00 a.m., with the finals on Saturday, January 11th, starting at 10:00 a.m. The men's and women's SL (Slalom) race will be held Sunday, January 12th, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The schools participating are University of Utah, University of Denver, University of Colorado, University New Mexico, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Wyoming and Westminster College.

"The MSU Alpine team is looking strong this year with 4 seniors leading the team and some exciting new recruits. With the help of the Nordic team, we will be gunning to win the meet on our home hill" said Kevin Francis, MSU Ski Team head alpine coach. Francis, former U.S. Ski Team member and the 2008 National Super G Champion, became the MSU head coach in fall 2013.

RMISA is the official association for the college and University NCAA teams in the Rocky Mountain Region, which is made up of seven NCAA Division 1 teams and one NAIA (National Association of Intercollgiate Athletics) institution from seven states. The Fédération Internationale De Ski/International Ski Federation (FIS) is the international governing body for skiing and snowboarding racing.